Lifting apparatus

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for attaching a coupler to a railroad car, the apparatus comprising a plurality of actuable coupler locking tabs adapted to engage with a knuckle on said coupler.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for lifting and insertinga railroad car coupler.

BACKGROUND ART

Railroad car couplers are known for joining adjacent railcars includingfreight cars and passenger cars. Freight car couplers include couplersfor articulated connectors and rotary dump style couplers. Couplersgenerally include a coupler head, a knuckle and a knuckle pivot pinalong with an internal mechanism with a lock and a rotary lockliftarrangement. The internal mechanism is actuable to move the knucklebetween open and closed orientations.

The equipment that connects the couplings to the rolling stock is knownas the draw gear. Draw gear typically comprises a recess into which ashaft of the coupler is inserted and secured.

Couplers are conventionally inserted into draw gear on railway cars witha drawbar sling. Aligning the coupler shaft with the draw gear recess isdifficult as the longitudinal axis of the shaft must be substantiallycoincident with the recess in the draw gear. To keep the shaft level, itis necessary to locate the centre of gravity of the coupler and attachthe sling in the appropriate position.

In addition, some couplers require rotation of 180° after insertion intothe draw gear in order to secure them. Such rotation is not possiblewith a drawbar song and in any event, requires significant physicaleffort.

The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intendedto facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, itshould be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement oradmission that any of the material referred to was part of the commongeneral knowledge in Australia or any other country as at the prioritydate.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an apparatusfor attaching a coupler to a railroad car, the apparatus comprising aplurality of actuable coupler locking tabs adapted to engage with aknuckle on said coupler.

The coupler locking tabs are actuable between engaged and disengagedconfigurations.

The apparatus comprises means to actuate the coupler locking tabsbetween engaged and disengaged configurations. Preferably, the means toactuate the coupler locking tabs between engaged and disengagedconfigurations is a rotary actuator.

The plurality of actuable coupler locking tabs are attached indirectlyor directly to a coupler rotator locking shaft, rotatable by the rotaryactuator.

Preferably, there are provided at least two coupler locking tabs. In oneform of the invention, there are provided three coupler locking tabs.Without being limited by theory, it is believed that where there arethree coupler locking tabs, at least two coupler locking tabs willalways engage the knuckle when the locking tabs are in the closedconfiguration.

In one form of the invention, the or each coupler locking tab comprisesan outboard face and an inboard face. In one form of the invention, theknuckle comprises an outboard face and an inboard face.

Engagement of the inboard face of at least one coupler locking tab withthe inboard face of the knuckle on the coupler provides engagement ofthe lifting apparatus with the coupler. Preferably, the inboard face ofthe or each coupler locking tab is complementary with the inboard faceof the coupler.

In one form of the invention, the cross-sectional shape of the couplerlocking tab is fin shaped.

Preferably, the rotary actuator is hydraulically operated. The rotaryactuator is adapted to lock the coupler locking tabs in the closedconfiguration.

In one form of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a lug,adapted to mate with a corresponding locating recess on the coupler.

In one form of the invention, the apparatus further comprises a locatingrecess, adapted to mate with a corresponding lug on the coupler.

In one form of the invention, the apparatus comprises a lug and alocating recess, adapted to respectively mate with a correspondinglocating recess and a corresponding lug on the coupler.

It will be appreciated that the lug may be provided in any shapecomplimentary to the locating recess on the coupler. It will further beappreciated that the recess on the lifting apparatus may be any shapethat is complementary to a lug or protrusion on the coupler.

Preferably, the apparatus comprises a lifting device releasably engagedwith the apparatus.

The lifting device is preferably engaged with the apparatus with arotary actuator. The rotary actuator enables the lifting device to notonly lift the apparatus, but to rotate the apparatus into the correctlocation to engage with the coupler. In addition, the lifting apparatusenables the lifting and rotation of the apparatus and the coupler whenengaging the coupler with the railroad car. Preferably, the rotaryactuator is hydraulically operated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the present invention are more fully described inthe following description of non-limiting embodiments thereof. Thisdescription is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying thepresent invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on thebroad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set outabove. The description will be made with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a coupler and a lifting apparatus in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus in accordance withan embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lifting apparatus in accordance withan embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a Type F coupler known in the art.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise,the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising”,will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or groupof integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group ofintegers.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention describedherein is amenable to variations and modifications other than thosespecifically described. It is to be understood that the inventionincludes all such variations and modifications. The invention alsoincludes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referredto or indicated in the specification, individually or collectively andany and all combinations or any two or more steps or features.

In FIG. 1 there is provided a plan view of a coupler 10 comprising acoupler shaft 12 and a coupler head 14 which may join with acorresponding coupler head of another railcar to couple together tworailcars. The coupler shaft 12 extends into rotary yoke (not shown) onthe draw gear and through rotary connector (not shown). Coupler shaft 12is held in place within rotary connector by a connector pin through acavity 16 in the coupler shaft.

The coupler head 14 comprises a knuckle 18 pivotally connected to thecoupler head by means of a knuckle pivot pin 20. The knuckle pivot pin20 allows rotational movement of the knuckle 18 for engagement anddisengagement of knuckles of connected railroad cars.

The knuckle 18 has an outboard face 22 and an inboard face 24. In use,two knuckles on opposed couplers engage at their inboard faces.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 there are provided perspective views of a liftingapparatus 30 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The lifting apparatus 30 comprises a base 32, three actuable couplerlocking tabs 34 attached to a sleeve 36 encasing a coupler rotatorlocking shaft 38. A rotary actuator (not shown) is adapted to rotate thecoupler rotator locking shaft 38 up to 90°. A suitable hydraulic rotaryactuator is a helical actuator available from HKS. Rotation of thecoupler rotator locking shaft 38 rotates the actuable coupler lockingtabs 34 from a disengaged configuration to an engaged configuration. Thelocking tabs may be locked in the engaged configuration by way ofphysical/mechanical means that triggers a hydraulic control valve. Whenin the engaged configuration the locking mechanism cannot be unlocked. Alifting D ring must be in a certain position on the lifting arm totrigger the control valve to enable disengagement.

The materials used are all 350 grade mild steel plate throughout theapparatus. The locking mechanism rod and bearing housings are 4140 hightensile grade steel, the bearings are aluminum bronze.

It will be appreciated that the shape of the locking tabs 34 will beinfluenced at least in part, by the shape of the corresponding knuckle18 on the coupler 10 and in particular the inboard face 24 thereof. Thelocking tabs 34 comprise inboard faces 39, adapted to engage the knuckleinboard face 24.

The coupler rotator locking shaft 38 is mounted between two pillow blockmounts 40. There are provided bushes 42, 44 at either end of the couplerrotator locking shaft 38 for engagement with the pillow block mounts 40.

On the underside of the base 32, there is provided a second rotaryactuator (not shown) such as a Helac L20 hydraulic rotary actuator. Therotary actuator is attached to a lifting apparatus (not shown) such as acrane or other mobile device.

The lifting apparatus 30 further comprises a lug 46 and a locatingrecess 48. The lug 40 is adapted to engage with a locating recess 50 ofa corresponding coupler 10 when in use. The locating recess 42 isadapted to engage with a lug 52 of a corresponding coupler 10 when inuse.

In addition to providing locating assistance, the lug 46 and locatingrecess 48 facilitate engagement of the lifting apparatus 30 and thecoupler 10. It will be appreciated that the shape of the lug 46 and thelocating recess 48 will be influenced at least in part, by the featuresof the coupler to which the lifting apparatus is intended to attach. Forexample, the lifting apparatus depicted is intended for operation with aType F rotary coupler known in the art. These further points ofengagement are particularly useful when it is necessary to rotate thecoupler to secure it to the draw gear.

In use, the rotary actuator on the underside of the base 32 will attachto a lifting device such as a crane. The lifting device is capable oflifting the apparatus 30 and the rotary actuator serves to retain theapparatus in the correct orientation for attachment to a coupler 10.

In attaching the lifting apparatus 30 to the coupler 10, the lockingtabs 34 must be in the disengaged orientation. It can be inserted intothe coupler 10 in the manner shown in FIG. 1. While being held in place,the rotary actuator that operates the locking shaft 38 rotates thelocking shaft 38 so that the locking tabs 34 rotate until they engage inthe inboard face 24 of the knuckle 18. At the same time, the lug 40engages with the locating recess 50 of the coupler 10 and the locatingrecess 42 engages with the lug 52 of the coupler 10.

The entire coupler 10 may be lifted for insertion into draw gear on atrain. The longitudinal axes of the coupler shaft 12 and thecorresponding recess in the draw gear may then be accurately aligned. Inaddition, where the coupler 10 requires 180 rotation after insertioninto the draw gear as is the case for Type F rotary couplers, rotationmay be performed accurately and controllably. Once engaged, the coupler10 can be rotated by way of a swash plate manual steering hand pump onthe rear base of the apparatus.

After insertion of the coupler 10 to the draw gear, the rotary actuatorthat operates the locking shaft 38 rotates the locking shaft 38 so thatthe locking tabs 34 disengage them from the knuckle 18 and the liftingapparatus 30 may then be removed from the coupler.

The apparatus of the present invention has been described and depictedwith reference to a standard type F coupler. However, it is understoodthat lifting apparatus having features of the invention may be utilizedwith other couplers without departing from the scope of the invention.

1. An apparatus for attaching a coupler to a railroad car, the apparatuscomprising a plurality of actuable coupler locking tabs adapted toengage with a knuckle on said coupler.
 2. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the plurality of coupler locking tabs are actuablebetween engaged and disengaged configurations.
 3. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 2, wherein the plurality of actuable couplerlocking tabs are attached indirectly or directly to a coupler rotatorlocking shaft, rotatable by a rotary actuator.
 4. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein there are provided at least two couplerlocking tabs.
 5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein thereare provided three coupler locking tabs.
 6. The apparatus in accordancewith claim 1, wherein the or each coupler locking tab comprises anoutboard face and an inboard face and the knuckle comprises an outboardface and an inboard face.
 7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6,wherein the inboard face of the or each coupler locking tab iscomplementary with the inboard face of the coupler.
 8. The apparatus inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises a lug, adaptedto mate with a corresponding locating recess on the coupler.
 9. Theapparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the apparatus comprises alocating recess, adapted to mate with a corresponding lug on thecoupler.
 10. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein theapparatus comprises a lug and a locating recess, adapted to respectivelymate with a corresponding locating recess and a corresponding lug on thecoupler.